A method is provided in one embodiment and includes receiving at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node that includes a portion of a service chain for processing a flow; recording the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element; and propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs if the first service node is hosted at the network element. Embodiments may also include propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs if the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the service node on behalf of which the propagated flow offload decision was received and a flow offload decision has already been received by the network element from the second service node.